ACTIVITY 5

Strengthening the Curriculum through a Center for Science and Interdisciplinary Studies (CSIS)

CSIS - This activity proposes to establish a Center for Science and Interdisciplinary Studies (CSIS). The Center is designed to attract more minority students to STEM degree programs; expand STEM offerings to prepare students for emerging interdisciplinary STEM careers; and involve faculty in professional development activities that will advance their disciplinary and pedagogical knowledge.  The STEM initiative in the project will focus on activities that support the on-going formal STEM courses. 

The Center will identify interdisciplinary programs, especially in STEM fields that attract students to HT and enhance student opportunities to pursue professional and graduate degrees in emerging integrative degree programs.  Through CSIS, partnerships will be sought with other institutions to activate a "pipeline" by which Huston-Tillotson students enter a profession or earn a graduate degreee at a partnership institution.  Furthermore, current degree offerings, especially in STEM fields, at Huston-Tillotson University will be studied and wherever feasible amalgamated into a interdisciplinary degree that is in high demand, globally.  A tentative list of possible interdisciplinary degree programs are:  Forensic Science involving Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Criminal Justice; Environmental Assessment involving Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; Entertainment Management invovlving Business and Music; Global Learning and Mass Media involving Business and Communications; and Industrial Engineering involving STEM fields.  Proposed joint degree programs are: Science and Engineering (HT and PV); Political Science and Public Administration (HT and LBJ); and Allied Health and Nursing (HT and PV, UTHSC).  Various partnering universities will identified to serve in the implementation of the joint degree "pipeline" program.

Honors Program - The purpose of this Activity is to strengthen the University's Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) emphasis through initiatives that will help honor students in these fields develop professional leadership skills and facilitate their entry into graduate and professional schools.  Moreover, this Activity will enhance academic excellence through targeted initiatives in the honors curriculum.  Since its inception in 2003, the Honors Program has successfully implemented a curriculum and activities- based agenda to meet the special needs of high achieving, gifted and talented students.  The students in the Honors Program have consistently excelled academically and have demonstrated knowledge, skill and maturity through their paticipation in a vaiety of campus leadership roles.

Component 1 CSIS Program:  Activity Director:  Dr. Joseph Jones

Component 2 Honors Program:  Activity Director:  Dr. Janice Sumler-Edmond